Device for attaching bed-bottoms to bedsteads



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- H. A. PINKHAM.

DEVICE FOR ATTACHING vBED BOTTOMS T0 BBDSTEADS. v

No. 537,787. Y PateqteglApr. 16, 1895.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

H. A. PINKHAM. DBVIUB POR 'ATTAGHING BED BOTTOMS T0 BEDSTBADS.

,787. Patsnted Apn 16, 1895.`

rares i ATENT Ormes.

HORACE A. PINKHAM, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of 'Letters Patent No. 537,787, dated April16, 1895.

Application tiled .August 9, 1894. Serial N0. 519,872. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HORACE A. PINKHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wollaston, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an'Improved Device for AttachingBed-Bottoms to Bedsteads, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a perspectiveview of an iro bedstead provided with my improved device for attachingthe bed-bottom thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of aportion of the bedstead, illustrating the manner in which my device isapplied to the opposite ends of the same. Figs. 3 andll are sideelevations of the supporting brackets. Fig. 5 is a detail inperspective. y

My invention has for its object to provide a simple, and convenientdevice for attaching bed-bottoms to iron or' wooden bedsteads, wherebythe bed-bottom can be readily secured in place upon the bedstead orremoved therefrom, and also tightened up to any desired degree oftension by means of a suitable bar or lever.

To this end my invention consists in a bracket adapted to be secured tothe end or side `,rail of a bedstead and provided witha pivoted arm orholder having a slot or socket for the reception of one end of a barwith which the bed bottom is connected, combined with a wedge or keywhich is introduced between the pivoted holder and a flange orprojectionon said bracket to lock said'holder after it has been forced back by abar or lever to put the desired tension upon the bed-bottom connectedwith the bar supported at its opposite ends by the pivoted holder.

My invention also consists in the combination, with an angle-barsupported at its opposite ends by the said pivoted holders, of a seriesof detachable curved springs, each provided at one end with a hookadapted to engage the lower edge of said angle-bar, and at its oppositeend with`a hook adapted to engage the edge of the bed-bottom, wherebythe latter is detachably connected with the anglebar in a simple andconvenient manner; and

my invention also consists in certain novel combinations of parts anddetails of construcangle-bar D, said brackets being each provided at oneend with an open slot b to enable it to fit over the rail B, and alsohaving a lat eral projection d which rests on the top of the side-bar orrail A, against which the bracket is placed as shown in Figs. l and 2,thereby relieving the slotted end from undue strain. The brackets arethus firmly secured in place without bolts or other fastening devicesand consequently can be very easily detached,

when required without the use of any tools whatever. i

To the inner side -of the bracket C is pivoted at e an arm or holder Gof the form shown -in Figs. 2 and 5, said holder being provided with an'open slot f for the reception of the vertical `member of the angle-barD, which fits snugly therein, the other or horizontal member of theangle-bar` bearing on the upper surface of the holder G which forms arest therefor. Between the upper projecting corner h of the holder G anda flange t' on the bracket C is placed a wedge or key 7c which, when theholder is swung backward fora purpose hereinafter described, will dropdown between said corner and flange and thus lock the holder in placeand prevent its backward movement until the key is withdrawn; and toprevent said key from becoming accidentally displaced, I preferablyprovide the flange and the adjacent surface of the key with teeth orserrations, 12 as shown. I prefer to connect the key with the bracket bymeans of a short chain or cord to prevent it from being lost or mislaid.

To the angle-bar D is secured a series of detachable curved-springs I-Icomposed of fiat steel each having a hook n at its lower a seats? endadapted to engage the lower edge of the vertical member of the bar D.These springs H extend up over the bar D, and each spring is provided atits upper end with a hookp which is adapted to engage a transverse rod qattached to and forming a part of the bedbottom K, shown in Fig. l,which may be composed of any suitable material and be of any suitable orapproved construction, and when such bed-botto1n is not provided with arod q, the spring H may be hooked into an eye on the bed-bottomorconnected therewith in any oth er suitable manner. The spring H ispreferably still further secured to the bar D by means of a screw 15anda nut 16. The opposite or head-end of the bed-bottom K is providedwith a transverse rod r similar to the rod q which is engaged by thehooked ends of a series of flat curved springs H similar to those at theother end of the bedstead above described, and which are secured in thesame manner to an angle bar L, the opposite ends of which are firmly andimmovably supported in brackets M which are simply each provided with anopen slot or socket s for the reception of the vertical member of theanglebar L, the pivoted holders G with which the other bracketsGareprovided being dispensed with, as those on said brackets C aresufficient to aord the necessary adjustment for tension. The brackets Mare provided with open slots b and projections d in the same manner andfor the saine purpose as those in the brackets C.

After the brackets C, M, have been secured to the bedstead-rails asdescribed, the bedbottom is hooked onto the springs H of the twoangle-bars D, L, which are then respectively dropped into their socketsin the pivoted holders G and brackets M, after which each of the saidholders G is forced back by means of a stout bar or leverP shown in Fig.2, the lower end of which is made to bear against a projection t on thebracket which forms a fulcrum for said lever which also bears upon theupper corner of the holder G, which can then be forced backward togetherwith the angle-bar D with a very powerful leverage to putthe requiredtension upon the bed-bottom, the wedge 7c dropping down as the holder Gis forced back,and thus locking it securely in place to hold thebed-bottom tightly stretched as required. The lever P is then removed tobe kept in a convenient place to be used whenever the bed requires to betightened up or when it is to be removed or put into place, whichoperations can be performed by any person with the greatest ease.

The curved springs H, by reason of their shape, and the manner in whichthey are secured to their angle-bars, form a powerful yieldingresistance to force exerted either in adownwardorlongitudinaldirection.Hence the bed-bottom is supported in such manner that while it is veryeasy and elastic, it will maintain its level when not in use, and willnot sag down at the center as is the case with many spring beds incommon use, while whenever it becomes necessary it can be readilytightened up or stretched between its points of support to any desireddegree by forcing the pivoted-holders G backward with the le` ver P asabove described.

Another advantage incident to the employment of my improvedattaching-device is that no wooden framework or transverse wooden slatsare required, and consequently less surface is presented for thelodgment or collection of dust, while the entire surface of thebed-bottom is exposed so that it can be easily reached with a brush orduster for cleansing purposes.

When my invention is to be applied to a wooden bedstead the bracketswill be made without the open slots b and projections d, and be boltedto the Wooden side-rails of the bedstead or otherwise rmly securedthereto.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The herein-described device for attaching bed-bottoms to bedsteads,consisting of a bracket adapted to be secured to the end or side-rail ofa bedstead and provided with a pivoted arm or holder having a slot orsocket for the reception of a bar with which. the bedbottom isconnected, combined with a wedge or key fitting between the said pivotedholder -and a flange or projection on the bracket,

whereby said holder is locked after being forced backward to put atension on the bedbottom, substantially as set forth.

2 In a bedstead, the combination with a bed-bottom of an angle-barprovided with a series of detachable curved springs H secured theretoand having hooks at their upper ends to engage said bed-bottom, a pairof brackets provided with pivoted arms or holders having slots orsockets adapted to receive and support the eertical member of saidanglebar, and wedges or keys placed between said pivoted holders andflanges or projections on the brackets for locking said pivoted holderswhen forced backward to stretch the bed-bottom, all operatingsubstantially as described.

3. A bedstead-bracket provided at one end with anopen slot b whereby itis adapted to hook over an angle-bar forming one of the rails of abedstead, and having a lateral projection d adapted to rest on the railat right angles to the rail over which the bracket is hooked, incombination with an arm or holder pivoted to said bracket and providedwith a slot or socket for the reception of the bar with which thebed-bottom is connected, and a wedge or key fitting between the saidpivoted holder and a flange or projection on the bracket, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

4. The combination with the bracket C adapted to be secured to the endor side rail IOC/ IIO

sion on the bed-bottom, substantially as set forth. 1o

Witness my hand this 7th dayof August, A. D. 1894.

t HORACE A. PINKH'AM. In presence of- P. E. TESCHMACHER, HARRY W. AIKEN.

